Back to EveryPatent.com
United States Patent | 5,207,673 |
Ebling ,   et al. | May 4, 1993 |
An optical apparatus functions as a laser catheter for removal, penetration or treatment of human tissue or other biotic material. The arrangement of the optical components, including the focal length of the lens and the spacing between the lens and the source of light is selected to yield an output beam having advantageous characteristics which are particularly suitable for medical laser treatment. Such characteristics include a relatively long beam throw, a long focal range, and a small output beam waist. A hollow tip, preferably conical in shape, is utilized to provide a tactile indicator as to the cutting action of the output beam.
Inventors: | Ebling; Wendell V. (El Toro, CA); Forkner; John F. (South Laguna, CA); Freiberg; Robert J. (Mission Viejo, CA); Woodard; Robert E. (El Toro, CA) |
Assignee: | Premier Laser Systems, Inc. (Irvine, CA) |
Appl. No.: | 803919 |
Filed: | December 6, 1991 |
Current U.S. Class: | 606/16; 385/33; 385/38; 606/15; 606/17 |
Intern'l Class: | A61N 005/06 |
Field of Search: | 128/395,392,398 606/2-19 385/33-35,38 |
3304403 | Feb., 1967 | Harper. | |
3622743 | Nov., 1971 | Muncheryan | 606/16. |
3693623 | Sep., 1972 | Harte et al. | |
3809072 | May., 1974 | Ersek et al. | |
3821510 | Jun., 1974 | Munchenyan | 128/395. |
3843865 | Oct., 1974 | Nath | 128/395. |
3865113 | Feb., 1975 | Sharon et al. | 606/19. |
4185633 | Jan., 1980 | Prozorov et al. | |
4207874 | Jun., 1980 | Choy | 128/398. |
4266549 | May., 1981 | Kimura | 128/395. |
4270845 | Jun., 1981 | Takizawa et al. | 606/19. |
4273109 | Jun., 1981 | Enderby. | |
4273127 | Jun., 1981 | Auth et al. | |
4281931 | Aug., 1981 | Chikama. | |
4398790 | Aug., 1983 | Righini et al. | 350/96. |
4418688 | Dec., 1983 | Loeb | 128/398. |
4421382 | Dec., 1983 | Doi et al. | 606/15. |
4458683 | Jul., 1984 | Saito et al. | 128/395. |
4487206 | Dec., 1984 | Aagard. | |
4517974 | May., 1985 | Tanner. | |
4519390 | May., 1985 | Horne. | |
4521070 | Jun., 1985 | Sottini et al. | |
4537193 | Aug., 1985 | Tanner | 606/19. |
4538609 | Sep., 1985 | Takenaka et al. | 128/395. |
4559442 | Dec., 1985 | Eisenberg | 606/6. |
4564011 | Jan., 1986 | Goldman | 128/398. |
4592353 | Jun., 1986 | Daikuzono. | |
4601548 | Jul., 1986 | Nishikawa | 350/96. |
4611288 | Sep., 1986 | Duret et al. | |
4641912 | Feb., 1987 | Goldenberg. | |
4657014 | Apr., 1987 | Edelman et al. | |
4671273 | Jun., 1987 | Lindsey | 128/398. |
4678268 | Jul., 1987 | Russo et al. | 350/96. |
4686979 | Aug., 1987 | Gruen et al. | |
4693244 | Sep., 1987 | Daikuzono. | |
4694828 | Sep., 1987 | Eichenbaum. | |
4732448 | Mar., 1988 | Goldenberg. | |
4736743 | Aug., 1988 | Daikuzono. | |
4761054 | Aug., 1988 | Ishimori et al. | 350/96. |
4772093 | Sep., 1988 | Abele et al. | |
4773899 | Sep., 1988 | Spears | 606/7. |
4778247 | Oct., 1988 | Carpenter. | |
4784132 | Nov., 1988 | Fox et al. | |
4784135 | Nov., 1988 | Blum et al. | |
4807987 | Feb., 1989 | Bastable et al. | |
4865029 | Sep., 1989 | Pankratov et al. | 606/17. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
069351 | Jan., 1983 | EP. | |
105706 | Apr., 1984 | EP. | |
0206331 | Dec., 1986 | EP. | |
0206332 | Dec., 1986 | EP. | |
0248520 | Dec., 1987 | EP. | |
0255974 | Feb., 1988 | EP. | |
0281161 | Sep., 1988 | EP. | |
2828322 | Jan., 1980 | DE. | |
3225452 | Jan., 1983 | DE. | |
3719561 | Jan., 1988 | DE. | |
258360A | Jul., 1988 | DE. | |
2513109 | Sep., 1981 | FR. | |
163307 | Jul., 1988 | JP. | |
2023004 | Dec., 1979 | GB. |
Righini et al., "Le Fibre Ottiche i Medicina", Alta Frequenza, vol. 47, No. 3, 1978, pp. 165-171 (with copy of English language translation). Sydney A. Self, "Focusing of Spherical Gaussian Beams", Applied Optics, vol. 22, No. 5, Mar. 1, 1983. Allison et al., "Use of Fiber Optics for Remote UF.sub.6 Laser-Induced Fluorescent Measurements", Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 380, Apr. 11-15, 1983, pp. 369-375. Grundfest et al., "Laser Ablation of Human Athersclerothic Plaque Without Adjacent Tissue Injury", Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 5, pp. 929-933 (1985). "Delivering the Promise of Direct Beam Therapy"--Spectraprobe-PLR Catheter, 2 pages. "Peripherals Are Our Business"--Laserguide, 2 pages. Pankratov et al., "Instruments: A Step-Zoom Probe for Laser Endophotocoagulation: I. Design", Ophthalmic Surgery, vol. 18, No. 1, Jan. 1987, pp. 61-65. Pankratov, "Algorithm for Calculating a Variable-Magnification Endophotocoagulation Probe", SPIE, vol. 713 Optical Fibers in Medicine II (1986), pp. 22-27. |